❓ Hon. Norman Moore questions the Minister about a significant cost increase in the Yarragadee Aquifer project at Gwelup, specifically regarding the discrepancy between the initial bore project and a subsequent, larger investment. The Minister clarifies that the increased cost is due to expanding the project to three bores and constructing a transfer pipeline to Yokine reservoir.
AnsweredQoN 1232Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
YARRAGADEE AQUIFER, GWELUP BORES
I remind the minister that on 28 February, in answer to a question, he told the House that a new bore is being constructed at Gwelup to further tap into the Yarragadee aquifer. He told Parliament that the bore will have a capacity of 7.3 gigalitres by August this year at a cost of $3.5 million. Today on radio we heard that the Government will invest $37 million to extract 15 gigalitres from the Yarragadee aquifer via bores at Gwelup. Can the minister tell us what has caused the massive cost explosion that will see a doubling of capacity result in a tenfold cost increase, if today’s reports are correct? Hon N.D. GRIFFITHS
I remind the minister that on 28 February, in answer to a question, he told the House that a new bore is being constructed at Gwelup to further tap into the Yarragadee aquifer. He told Parliament that the bore will have a capacity of 7.3 gigalitres by August this year at a cost of $3.5 million. Today on radio we heard that the Government will invest $37 million to extract 15 gigalitres from the Yarragadee aquifer via bores at Gwelup. Can the minister tell us what has caused the massive cost explosion that will see a doubling of capacity result in a tenfold cost increase, if today’s reports are correct? Hon N.D. GRIFFITHS
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice of this question. The scheme announced today builds on the earlier investment decision to construct the bore at Gwelup by expanding the development to three bores and providing the necessary transfer pipeline to Yokine reservoir. The single-bore proposal was designed to directly connect into the local ground water treatment plant at Gwelup, which has a limited capacity. With the increased flow from the three bores, it is now necessary to direct the flow to Yokine. A substantial proportion of the $37 million cost is for the transfer pipelines to enable the full yield of 15 gigalitres to be realised through Yokine.
Hon N.D. GRIFFITHS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. The scheme announced today builds on the earlier investment decision to construct the bore at Gwelup by expanding the development to three bores and providing the necessary transfer pipeline to Yokine reservoir. The single-bore proposal was designed to directly connect into the local ground water treatment plant at Gwelup, which has a limited capacity. With the increased flow from the three bores, it is now necessary to direct the flow to Yokine. A substantial proportion of the $37 million cost is for the transfer pipelines to enable the full yield of 15 gigalitres to be realised through Yokine.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. The scheme announced today builds on the earlier investment decision to construct the bore at Gwelup by expanding the development to three bores and providing the necessary transfer pipeline to Yokine reservoir. The single-bore proposal was designed to directly connect into the local ground water treatment plant at Gwelup, which has a limited capacity. With the increased flow from the three bores, it is now necessary to direct the flow to Yokine. A substantial proportion of the $37 million cost is for the transfer pipelines to enable the full yield of 15 gigalitres to be realised through Yokine.
Hon N.D. GRIFFITHS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. The scheme announced today builds on the earlier investment decision to construct the bore at Gwelup by expanding the development to three bores and providing the necessary transfer pipeline to Yokine reservoir. The single-bore proposal was designed to directly connect into the local ground water treatment plant at Gwelup, which has a limited capacity. With the increased flow from the three bores, it is now necessary to direct the flow to Yokine. A substantial proportion of the $37 million cost is for the transfer pipelines to enable the full yield of 15 gigalitres to be realised through Yokine.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. The scheme announced today builds on the earlier investment decision to construct the bore at Gwelup by expanding the development to three bores and providing the necessary transfer pipeline to Yokine reservoir. The single-bore proposal was designed to directly connect into the local ground water treatment plant at Gwelup, which has a limited capacity. With the increased flow from the three bores, it is now necessary to direct the flow to Yokine. A substantial proportion of the $37 million cost is for the transfer pipelines to enable the full yield of 15 gigalitres to be realised through Yokine.
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